Twister spindle



April 12, 1960 J. v. KEITH TWTSTER SPINDLE Original Filed Sept. 30, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

BY JOHN V KEITH A T TORNE Y United States Patent' G TWISTER' SPINDLE John V. Keith, Warwick,-R.I., assignor-torLeesonaCorporation, a corporation of -Massachusetts 'OriginaI application-September 30, 1953, Serial No. '--383",263, -now'Patent No. 2,785,526, dated 'Mai-ch49, 1957. Divided and this appiicationfictobef;19,;1956, .u-SerialNo. 616,963

"'6 Claims. (l. 57-5836) The present invention: relates to. spindles 'for. twisting "yarn and more'particula'rly relates" to' spindles uof'r'the -multiple twist type and is asdivisionof my copending application Serial No.- 383,263 filed September 30; 1953, now U.S; Patent No. 2,785,526. I

In the following specification and. claims theterm yarn isemployed ina general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material-s, either textile or. otherwise, and'the designation package is intended'tomean the ;product of a winding machine whatever-its form.

-Multiple twistspindles have been known -=to1 those skilled in the art for many years. Use of this type "spindle, however, has not been wide-spread 'due to difiiculties encountered in controlling the tension in 'the strand of yarn being twisted, incontr'olling'the balloon "-formed-bythe rapidly rotating"strandof yarn, and the fact that the yarn, carried bythe spindle has=a tendency "to food out of the twisting spindle-when 'the'ru'nning strand is broken. Accurate control of-tension through a' wide range of selection is necessary to accuratelytwist "the great variety of yarnsthat a commercially successful spindle must be capable of twisting. The sizeand shape I of the balloon formed by the twisting yarn aEeCtsthe tension-in'the strand of-yarn and also is-thedetermining I factor in the spacing of adjacent-spindles. It-is desirablev to locate the spindles as close together as; possible to *obtain the greatest possibleutilizationof available space. When the supply of yarn continues to feed out-ofthe spindle after it has broken, the end thereof iS Whipped 'around and becomes entangled in adjacent yarnballoons I causing those strands to break and in addition the rapidly "rotating end beats against adjacent parts'of t-he twisting machine and is broken into small fra gments' whiclr fill the air in the room and contaminate yarn being processed within a wide area. A further disadvantagein -prior -multiple'twist spindles isthe possibility that the bearings supporting the normally stationary supply of yarn being twisted may lock or seize with the result thatsaid supply will be rotated at a very high speed to thereby cause-the destruction-of the spindle itselfand the possibility of severe physical injury to the machine operator. I

I It is, therefore,- one object of the present invention to I provide a multiple twist spindle having tension" controlling means that are readily adjustable.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple twist spindle having a tension controlling means capable of accurately controlling the tension of astrand --of--yarn being twistedthrough a wide range of'tensions.

Another object of the present invent ion is to" provide a multiple twist spindle having a balloon restraining guard adapted to move with the spindle as it moves between 'its operative and inoperative positions.

Another object of the present inventionis topro'vide a I multiple-twist--spindle havingmeans toarrest-the rotationof the yarnsupply package carried thereby injthe event the bearings supporting said supply package lock or seize. f

"Another object of the present invention I is to provide 21 2,932,150 Batented Apr. 12 1960 k2 multipletwist spindle having means to catch the strand -of=-yarn carried by the spindle in the-eventsaid strand -breaks' and to thereby prevent continued: rotation ot -said spindle from feeding said yarn. 5 -"Another objectoflthepresent invention is-to provide a multiple: twistspindle withmeans to prevent the-supply I of yarncarried thereby from being discharged therefrom the event the twisting operation is'interr upted=by=breakage 'oflthe running strand. -Othevobjectwofiheinvention-will in part be obvious and will ini part app'ear hereinafter.

3 The "invention accordingly comprises the apparatus --possessingt the construction, :combination of elements 'and arrangement ofparts- -whichare: exemplified =in the following:detailedfi'disclosure; and the scope of "the appli- I cation:of which wilbbe indicated in theclaims. 'For a fulleruunderstanding of" the nature-and objects ot the invention; reference should be hadto the' followdetaileddescription taken in-connection with the accompanying drawings wherein; I

Fig. l is an elevation partly in section 'showingthe qmultiple t-wistspindle of the present inventiong FigZ'2 -is af-fragmentarysectional viewtaken on'theline 'II-II --of Fig 1 and looking in"the- 'direction of the arrows;

1i Fig. 3--is-a" fragmentary sectional view taken on 'the -line III- 111 ofFig; 1 'and looking' inthe direction bf -the arrows; I

'Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectional-view taken on the line IV-'IV I er Fig. I I and-looking in the z direction ofi -the arrows; I

Fig. Sis an enlarged fragmentary-view, partly insec- I I tion, showing =t he yarn catching mechanism;- and Fig. 6 is a= sectional- .viewtaken on the line VI- -VI 3545f Figfii-and looking in:the "direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 1 shows a-multiple=twist spindle lil carriedby 7 a spindle swing 14 I of the type disclosed in U LSJ Patent 2,648,948,=issued August '18, 1953, to'D; GE Sousslofi et al. Spindle swing I l-includes a bracket'portion 16, adaptd-to be secured tot-he bed of a t wisting machine, havii ig pivot-ally -mounted thereon-spindle carrying arm 18. Spindle' 'IO is resilient-lysecuredinarm' -18 bymeans of a vibration-isolatingmounting member 20 'of' the type disclosed in applicationfor UiSi Letters Patent Serial No. 222,83 6 for -Spindle Mounting filed Ap'ril -25, '1951 by' D f 'GZ- Sous'slofi'et al., now-USi -Patent; No.* 2}668 ,027.

"Spindle -10 is provided with a spindle blade 21} having a whorl 22 fixed thereongrotatably'journaled in: spindle s-t ep -24 which in 'turn' is secured in 'vibration is'olating mouhting-20. I A conventional spindle driving belt, 'not shown; is -dapted-td-b 'engaged bywhojrl 22 upon rear- Wardpivotal-movement bfann 18 tojthereby rotate said -whorl*-and-'-spindle blade 21' in'- anold and *well'jknown 'manner. Forwardipivotal-movement of arm 18' disen- 'ga'ged'whorl 22- from the belt and brings said whorlinto engagement with a fixedbr'ake' 28 to stop the'rotation 'of 'the spindle and whorl. A disc 'like' flyer '30- isf fixedly secured to spiiidleZl adjacent whorl" 22 by means of key 1 31' a-nd is providedwith aradial passage '32. FThe inner my end of-passage 32 connects-with an-aXiaI; passage-34 provided infthe"upper end bfjspindl blade 21- to thereby forxriapassageway for the yarn -being-twist'ed. Wear resisting'members 36-and=38 are '-p rovid ed "in passage, 32

adjacent its outereii and" at thejuncture of said passage 5-32 with axial passage34-to resistabrasion by the -strand 'of yarn*Y- as it passes" through saidpassages. The periphery: of flyer -30 adjacent passage "34' comprises a yarn storage ring- 33' adapted to receive a wrap 'or'wraps of; yarn when' the spin'dle is in 'operation to assist in 7o-controlling the tension in yarriba-lloon, all inthe manner ;farniliarto-those skilled theart. Storagering '33 is s'li glitly'tapered; beingof smallerdiameter at its upper .edge than at its lower edge, so that when the spindle is operated with more thanone wrap of yarn therearound the wraps will be spaced longitudinally and will not fall one upon the other. Flyer 30 is provided'with a flange 35 adjacent the upper edge of yarn storage ring 33 to guide the running strand of yarn around the upper is mounted on spindle blade 21. Said support comprises a cylindrical member 46 journaled on the upper portion of spindle blade 21 by means of anti-friction bearings 48 and 50 which have their inner races in engagement with said spindle blade and their outer races located within resilient annular vibration isolating members 52 and 54 which in turn contact the inner surface of the lower end of cylindrical member 46. An annular up- ,standing flange or rim 56 is carried by member 46 concentrically therewith by means of web portion 58 which connects the lower end of said member 46 and the lower end of flange 56. A permanent magnet 60 is fixedly secured in recess 80 in web 58, by any convenient means, as for example screw 62, and cooperates with a second permanent magnet 64 carried by upstanding arm 66 to prevent the rotation of said support member when spindle blade 21 is rotated. Magnet 64 is spaced from magnet 60 to provide a gap through which the yarn balloon can pass when the spindle is in operation. The lower end of arm 66 is secured, preferably by welding, to bracket member 68 which in turn is secured to spindle step 24 by having said step pass through a hole in one of its ends and being clamped between the lower end of vibration isolating mount 20 and the nut 70 which clamps said spindle step in said vibration isolating mount.

A second recess 72 is provided in the under side of web 58 diametrically opposite magnet 60. An L-shaped safety latch 74 is slidably journaled in said recess for radial movement in the same plane as magnet 64. Safety latch 74 is adapted to move, under the influence of magnet 64 from its normal inward position wherein its outer end is inside the circumference of web 58, to an outward position wherein its outer end will engage said magnet 64, in the event the yarn support starts to rotate with spindle blade 21 to prevent further rotation thereof. Latch 74 is normally held in its inward or withdrawn position by means of spring 76 having one of its ends in engagement with the upstanding portion 75 of said latch and its other end in engagement with the opposed wall of recess 72. Latch 74 is retained in recess 72 by I means of an annular cover plate 78 which encloses recesses 72 and 80 to thereby present a smooth surface to the air currents set up by flyer 30 as it rotates. A yarn supply carrying bobbin, comprising a cylindrical barrel 40, a flat circular head 42 secured to its lower end and a frusto-conical shaped upper head 44, of smaller diameter than head 42, secured to its upper end, fits over cylindrical member 46 and has its lower head supported by felt pad 82 on web 58. A plurality of finger holes are spaced around the tapering surface of frustoconical head 44 to permit the bobbin and the supply of yarn carried thereby to be picked up by head 44 so that the lay of said yarn will not be disturbed. A dome 84, preferably made of transparent plastic material, engages in a rabbet formed in the upper edge of flange 56 to enclose the bobbin, the supply of yarn carried thereby, and the tension mechanism to be explained hereinafter.

An adjustable yarn tensioning mechanism, see Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is carried by cylindrical member 46. The

tension device includes a magnet holding and yarn guiding tube 86 located within the bore of cylindrical member 46 and in alignment with axial passage 34 in spindle blade 21. Tube 86 is held against rotation in cylindrical member 46 by means of splines 88 formed on tube 86 slightly above its mid-point which fit into longitudinally extending grooves 90 formed in said cylindrical member 46. One of the splines 88;. and the groove with which steel, procelain, etc.

upper end of tube 86.

' An adjustable shunt 94 is positioned above circular magnet 92 and comprises a circular disc of magnetic material, such as iron, provided with a diametrically extending slot 96. Shunt 94 is mounted adjacent the upper end of tension cap 93. Tension cap 98 has a generally cylindrical lower portion located in the upper end of cylindrical member 46 and having a bore that surrounds magnet 92. Its cylindrical portion joins a flange 108 thereon which rests upon the upper end of member 46 and its upper end 114 is frusto-conical in shape. A tension friction plate 100 is also carried by tension cap 98 immediately above shunt 94. Tension friction plate 100 is a disc provided with a central aperture 102 in alignment with the bore of tube 86 and is formed of a non-magnetic wear resistant material such as stainless A tension disc 104 formed of magnetic material rests on tension friction plate 100 and is provided with a depending stem 106 loosely fitting in aperture 102 to permit the yarn Y drawn from the supply to pass between friction plate 100 and tension disc 104 and to pass through aperture 102 between the wall of said aperture and depending stem 106 prior to travelling down tube 86, the axial passage 34 in spindle 21, and out radial passage 32 in flyer 30. Tension disc 104 is preferably formed from thin material and depending stem 106 is preferably formed from a light weight plastic to reduce to a minimum the weight of said tension disc. Tension disc 104 is drawn against friction plate 100 by the circular magnet 92 to thereby apply a restraining or tension creating force to the strand of yarn being drawn between said plate and said disc. The magnetic force exerted on tension disc 104 can be adjusted to increase or decrease the force applied to the running strand of yarn by rotating shunt 94 relative to magnet 92 to cut off greater or less numbers of magnetic lines of force depending upon the position of slot 96 with respect to the poles of said magnet. To facilitate this adjustment, and to insure the quick and accurate setting of the tension, tension cap 98 is rotatable within the upper end of cylindrical member 46 and is provided in the under side of its flange 108 with a plurality of holes 110 any one of which can fit over pin 112 upstanding from the upper end of said cylindrical member 46.

It will be understood that the maximum number of magnetic lines of force will pass through shunt 94 when the slot 96 formed therein is in alignment with the poles of magnet 92 and the minimum number of lines of force will pass through said shunt when said slot is at right angles to said magnetic poles. It will also be understood that there are two positions of said shunt when said slot therein is in alignment with said magnetic poles, i.e. a first position, and a second position wherein said shunt is rotated degrees from the first position. In both of these positions of the shunt the maximum number of lines of force will pass therethrough. There are also two positions of said shunt, 180 degrees apart, when the slot 96 is at right angles to the poles of magnet 92 and the same minimum number of lines of force will pass therethrough regardless of which position is used. It is also true that when shunt 94 is in an intermediate position, for example with its slot 96 forming an angle of 45 degrees to the poles of magnet 92, the same number of magnetic lines of force will pass through said shunt regardless of whether that 45 degree angle is made by said slot being inclinedfrom right to left or from left to right. In other wa the effect of. shunt 94 depends upon the angle its slot makes with thepoles of magnet 92 and the effect is always the same regardless of whether the angle formed is right hand or left hand or is 180 degrees displaced. Thatbeing the case it is possible to calibrate tension cap 98 by using the entire 360 degrees of the surface of its flange 108 to give the effect of extremely small increments taken through 90 degrees of its circumference, and thus permit the holes 110 to be spaced four times as far apart as would be possible if the calibration were done in 90 degrees. Indicia consisting of letters of the alphabet are stamped in the conical surface 114 of tension cap 98 with each letter corresponding to a hole 110. The hole 110 which, when engaged by pin 112, positions the slot in the shunt at 90 degrees to the magnet poles is given the letter A. Therefore when tension cap 98 is positioned so that pin 112 engages the hole marked A the minimum number of magnetic lines of force will pass through shunt 94 to draw tension disk 104 against tension friction plate 100, with the result that the minimum amount of tension will be appliedto a strand of yarn drawntherebetween. The hole marked with the letter B is located in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 3, substantially 176 degrees from the hole A so that when tension cap 98 is rotated to the position wherein pin 112 engages hole B slot 96 will form an angle of 86 degrees with the poles of magnet 92. The hole marked with the letter C is located 12 degrees in a clockwise direction from the hole marked B and 188 degrees from the hole marked A. As a result when pin 112 is engaged in hole C slot 96 will form an angle of 82 degrees with the poles of magnet 92, but will be inclined in the opposite direction from its inclination when therhole B is engaged. The hole marked with the letter D is located 184 degrees in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, from the hole marked C and 12 degrees from the hole marked A. Therefore, when pin 112 is engaged in hole C slot 96 will form an angle of 78 degrees with the poles of magnet 92. The remaining holes 110 are located in the-manner illustrated in Fig. 3 with the result that moving tension cap 98 so that pin 112 engages holes 110 in alphabetical order, starting with the hole marked A, will vary the angle slot 96 makes with the poles of magnet 92 in increments of substantially 4 degrees.

Longitudinal grooves 116 are formed in the bore of cylindrical member 46 adjacent its upper end and cooperate with notches 118 in the upper edge of member 46 to provide a plurality of air passageways leading from the space surrounding the yarn supply package and the tension mechanism into the interior of cylindrical member 46. When flyer 30 is rotated at its high operational speed the radial passage 32 formed therein acts in the manner of a centrifugal pump and evacuates most of the air from the interior of cylindrical member 46. Notches 118 and longitudinal grooves 116 provide an air passage around tension disc 104 to permit the air enclosed by dome 84 to be drawn into the bore of cylindrical member 46 at thesa-me rate said cylindrical member is evacuated, to maintain the pressure on both sides of tension disc 104 substantially equal. Failure to so vent the spindle would result in pressure outside cylindrical member 46 pressing tension disc 104 against friction plate 100' and result in excessive tension being applied to the strand of yarn ibeing twisted.

In the event strand of yarn Y. breaks after it has emerged from radial passage 32 in flyer 30, the centrifugal force exerted on the strand due to its rapid rotation by said flyer tends to draw yarn from the supply carried by the spindle. The rapid rotation of afree feeding strand of yarn causes the strand to strike adjacent parts of the twisting machine and break into small fragments that fill the air over a wide area to contaminate yarn being processed by other spindles and to clog bearings and gearing in all exposed mechanisms. The spindle of the present invention is provided with a device which permits the free passage of the strand of yarn while the strand re mains unbroken but which will'catch and hold it in the event it breaks. The yarn catching device 158 is dis closed in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 and includes a ring 160 threadedly secured to the lower end of yarn guiding tube 86. The bore of ring 160 is restricted to form a shoulder 162 which cooperates with the lower end of tube 86 to clamp yarn catching elements 164 and 166 to the end of said tube. Element 164 comprises a relatively rigid dependinglflat finger 168 secured at its upper end to horizontal semi-circular member 170. The lower end of finger 168 is provided at each side thereof with a shallow flange or boss 172. Element 166 comprises a horizontal semi-cir cular member 174 having a downwardly inclined detent 176 formed thereon. A flat spring 178 has its upper end secured to detent 176 and forms a continuation thereof. The two semi-circular members and 174 when fitted together form a circle that will fit inside of ring 160 against the shoulder 162. Thus when said member 170 and 174 are fitted in ring 160 and said ring screwed on the lower end of tube 86 said members 170 and 174 are clamped between said tube and flange to thereby hold the lower end of flat spring 178 against flanges 172. Flanges 172 hold spring 178 spaced from finger 168 a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the strand of yarn Y to normally permit the free passage of said strand therebetween. When strand Y breaks the centrifugal force onsaid strand does not feed the strand as fast as it is normally drawn in the twisting process. As a result the length of yarn between flyer 30 and tension disc 104 is, in a very short time, twisted to such an extent that kinks are formed therein which can not pass through the space between finger 168 and spring 178 and the feeding of the strand is thus stopped. Continued rotation of flyer 30 after the strand Y has stopped will twist the strand to such an extent that it will be twisted apart, usually just below the yarn catching device 158. After the strand has been twisted off on the axis of spindle blade 21 the flyer obviously can no longer exert any efiect on the strand and any tendency for the strand to feed out of the spindle ceases. Spring 178 is flexible and is pushed aside by the threading needle employed to thread multiple twist spindles when said needle is passed down through tube 86. In the event it is desired to twist a yarn of different diameter on spindle 10 it is only necessary to replace finger 168 with another similar finger having flanges 172 thereon slightly higher than the diameter of the new strand of yarn. I

A smooth ring 120 formed from a wear resistant material is concentrically spaced around spindle 10 at approximately the point that would normally yield the maximum balloon diameter. Ring 120 is carried by upstanding arm 66 by means of mounting bracket 122 adjustably secured to said arm. Ring 120 functions to restrain the balloon formed by the rapidly rotating strand of yarn from being of excessive diameter thereby reducing the tension imposed on the strand of yarn due to centrifugal force and Wind resistance and also permitting spindles 10 to be spaced closer together. Inasmuch as ring 120 is carried by upstanding arm 66 which in turn is carried by spindle carrying arm 18 it will be seen that said ring will move with spindle 10 to and from its operative position and will always remain concentric therewith.

The above described apparatus operates in the following manner: After a bobbin of yarn has been placed over cylindrical member 46, tension disc 104 is removed and the strand of yarn Y fromthe supply is passed, by means of a conventional threading needle, through aperture 102 in friction plate 100, slot 96 inrnagnetic shunt 94, yarn guiding tube 86, between finger 168 and spring 178 and through axial passage 34 of spindle blade 21, and out radial passage 32 in flyer 30. As the yarn emerges from radial passage 32 it is passed upwardly inside of balloon restraining ring 120, through yarn guide, not shown, concentric with spindle blade 21, and onto any convenient esteem take-up. Tension disc .104 is then replaced on friction plate1100a with :its depending .stem 106 extending ,into aperture 102. Tension ;cap 98 is then lifted lto free it from pin 112 and itis'then rotated untilthe indicia marked thereon indicates that thedesired setting of shunt 94 has been obtained, whereupon pin 112 is engaged .in the appropriate hole 110 to insure that the setting will not change during the twisting operation. Following this, dome 84 is placed on annular flange 56 to enclose the yarn supply and tension mechanism, and arm 18 is pivoted rearwardly to engage whorl 22 with the driving belt to place the spindle in operation. The yarn supply and tension mechanism is held against rotation by the magnets 60 and 64 so that rotation of flyer 30 swings a loop of yarn about the supply, in the manner old and well known to those skilled inthe art, to thereby insert two turns of twist into strand Y for every single rotation of said flyer.

In the eventbearings 48 and 50 seize so that the yarn supply and its support start to vrotate, L-shaped safety latch 74 will be drawn out of its recess 72 by magnet 64 as .said latch approaches said magnet, whereupon the end portion of the latch will strike against side of the magnet and thereby prevent damage to the spindle which might take place if said yarn supply and its support were permitted to rotate at high speed.

In the event the strand of yarn being twisted breaks, rotation of fiyer 30 will impart such a high degree of twist to the length of yarn between said fiyer and tension disc .104 that kinks or snarls will be formed therein that can not pass between finger 168, and spring 178. Continued rotation of fiyer 30 will twist the strand oil on the axis of the spindle whereupon any tendency for the yarn to feed from the spindle will be ended.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

What is claimed is: i

1, In amultiple twist spindle having a rotatable spindle provided with an axial bore and a radial passage connecting therewith, the combination comprising a stationary yarn support carried by said spindle, yarn tensioning means carried by said support, and yarn catching means carried by said support and interposed between said tensioning means and said spindle bore, said yarn catching means comprising a pair of elements spaced a predetermined distance apart to form an opening through which a strand of yarn must pass as it travels from said tensioning means to said axial bore. 7

2. A multiple twist spindle comprising a rotatable spindle having an axial bore and a radial passage connecting therewith, a stationary yarn support carried by said spindle, yarn tensioning means carried by said support, a tubular member carried by said support in axial alignment with said bore for guiding a strand of yarn from said tension to said bore, and yarn catching means carried by .said tubular member, said yarn catching means comprising a pair of elements spaced a predetermined distance apart to form an opening through which astrand of yarn mustpass as it travels from said tensioning means to said axial bore. 9

3. A multiple twist spindle comprising a rotatable spindle having an axial bore and aradial passage connecting therewith, a stationary yarn support carried by said spindle, yarn tensioning means carried by said support, a tubular member carried .by said support in axial alignment with said bore for guiding a strand of yarn from said tension to said bore, and yarn-catchingmeans. carried .by saidtubular member, said yarn catching means comprising a substantially rigid member, a secon'd memberjresiliently urged toward said rigid member, andmeansfinterposedbetween said members to space said second member a predetermined distance from said rigid member to form a yarn passage therebetween.

4. In a multiple twist spindle including a rotatable spindle having an axial bore formed therein and a radial passage connecting therewith, the combination comprising a stationary yarn support carried by said spindle, a tubular member carried by said support in axial alignment with said bore, yarn tensioning means adjacent the end of said tubular member remote from said spindle, and .yarn catching means carried by said tubular member, said yarn catching means comprising a substantially rigid member, a second member resiliently urged toward said rigid member, and means interposed between said members to space said second member a predetermined distance from saidrigid memberto form a yarn passage therebetween.

5. A multiple twist spindle comprising a rotatable spindle having an axial bore and a radial passagev connecting therewith, a stationary yarn support carried 'by said spindle, yarn tensioning means carried by said support, a tubular member carried by said support in axial alignment with said bore for guiding a strand of yarn from said tension to said bore, and yarn catching means carried by said tubular member, said yarn catching means comprising a pair of elements spaced a predetermined distance apart to form an opening through which a strand of yarn must pass as it travels from said tensioning means to said axial bore, said elements comprising a substantially rigid member, and a resilient member, and abutment means carried by one of said members to space said members a predetermined distance apart to thereby form a yarn passage therebetween.

6. A multiple twist spindle comprising a rotatable spindle having an axial bore and a radial passage connecting therewith, a stationary yarn support carried by said spindle, yarn tensioning means carried by said support, a tubular member carried by said support in axial alignment with said bore for guiding a strand of yarn from said tension to said bore, and yarn catching means carried by said tubular member, said yarn catching means comprising a pair of complementary semi-circular segments, means for detachably securing said segments to one end of said tubular member, a stationary rigid finger carried by one of said segments and extending therefrom axially of said tubular member, a resilient finger carried by the other ofsaid segments and urged in the direction of said rigid finger, and abutment means carried by one of said fingers to space said fingers a predetermined distance apart to thereby form a yarn passage therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,445,721 Bartholomew July 20, 1948 2,478,927 Carter Aug. 16, 1949 2,684,566 Roberts July 27, 1954 2,725,711 Vibber Dec. 6, 1955 2,729,932 Vibber Jan. 10, 1956 2,731,786 Klein Jan. 24, 1956 2,732,610 Perry Jan. 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 250,053 Switzerland May 18,1948 

